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Eurovision Song Contest British Hits and Misses

With Great Britain’s latest miserable failure in the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest held in Israel, we take a look back at some of the highs, and very lows, of British performances over the years. You see, it hasn’t always been this bad!

The Background

The Eurovision Song Contest was a vision come true, conceived by the man, Marcel Bezençon, a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The first contest was held on May 24, 1956; it was based on Italy’s Sanremo Music Festival, and originally had seven nations who participated in the contest.

The reason for his creation was that he wanted to test the limits of live television broadcast technology, by using a live orchestra and current radio hits, the contest grew into what it is today. Early on, the contestants were to only sing in their country’s national language, with rules set by the EBU, since then the rules have altered over the years.

Great Britain
The United Kingdom first made its debut in 1957 and may have one of the most impressive resumes when it comes to their past performances over the years. They have also hosted the contest eight times, with their most recent hosting taking place in 1998, in Birmingham.

Consecutive Appearances
Some of Great Britain’s most impressive feats include the record for the longest run of consecutive appearances, 59, to be exact. They also hold the record for coming in second in the final ranking 15 times and hold the record for the most top 10 (41) and top 5 placings (29). Something to be proud of at least?

Zero Points
Their lowest placements have had them finishing in 26th place a total of two times, in Riga 2003, the most notable, the contestant Jemini, who actually got them a never experienced before, zero points. There were those that were so upset with her performance that her dressing room was vandalised as a result.

Yet More Lows
Last place was also their fate with the contestant Josh, in Oslo of 2010 and also in 2008 with the contestant Andy Abraham, in Belgrade, with the song choice Even if. It would seem that Great Britain has a harder time these days even scoring in the top 10, possibly due to the change of contest rules that control the language in which the contestants can perform.

The Highs!
On a more positive note, they have won the contest a total of five times, with their most recent win by the group Katrina and the Waves, in 1997. In this particular instance, Katrina and the Waves scored a record-smashing 227 points that not only sealed their victory but also gave them another massive musical hit.

Other victories include Sandie Shaw, in 1967, with the song Puppet on a String, Lulu, in 1969, with the song Boom Bang-a-bang, Brotherhood of Man, in 1976, with Save Your Kisses for Me, and lastly, Bucks Fizz, in 1981 with Making Your Mind Up.

In one particular instance, a song was written specifically for the show, Flying the Flag, which was performed by Scooch but it only resulted in a 22nd finish, tying with France. To this day, there have been over 1,500 songs that have been sung in one of the world’s most recognized singing contests.

Great Britain’s first participant was Patricia Bredin who landed in 7th place. And in the most recent contest in Tel Aviv, Michael Rice’s song Bigger Than Us, rather shamefully put the United Kingdom in last place, once again. The question that many fans of the show ask is, why did Michael Rice come in last place?

That Word… Brexit
There are those who put the blame on Brexit, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union which was voted upon in 2016, or is it simply that Great Britain isn’t putting the effort in like they used to?

When the calculation of the votes was revealed the British fans flooded social media with claims that Europe hates them all because of Brexit, that it is all political, and that what is the point in bothering to send anyone anymore?

Whether or not it is political or for lack of sending a memorable song, if Great Britain wants to return to their former glory days, some changes need to be made. Especially since a decade has passed since they last cracked their way into the top ten.

The Eurovision Song Contest shows no sign of stopping; it recently (2015) celebrated its 60th anniversary and honoured that milestone by admitting Australia as permissible participants for the first time in the show’s history.

The Greatest of Singing Competitions?
It was also recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records that year as being the longest running annual TV music competition. With approximately 189 million viewers watching it last year alone, the music competition shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

The European Union is known in the world as one of the biggest economies. Most people also recognize the EU as an initiative to unite European countries after the two major Global Wars. But apart from these, there are a lot of fun facts that you probably did not know about the European Union.

Fact #1: 24 tongues of fire

There are 24 official languages used in the European Union. The most commonly used are English, French, and German. Other languages include Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, and Swedish. If there are European parliament debates, sessions, and conferences, official transcripts and documents are translated into all these languages. Whew!

Fact #2: The vultures are starving

The European Union has a law on the proper disposal of dead animal farms. They should be taken for disposal to either knacker, maggot farms, incinerators, or renderers. However, in 2009, Madrid’s regional government appealed to the European Union to relax their law about the disposal of the dead livestock. Why? Because the vultures are hungry. You heard it right. According to Madrid’s environmentalists, the lack of rotting animals leaves vultures no adequate source of food.

Fact #4: EU as a huge frogs’ legs importer

According to reports, eating frogs’ legs has been an English delicacy for many, many years. According to reports, this practice has been long existent in the UK between 7500 BC and 6250 BC, the earliest British settlement. But it was only in the 12th century when French formally listed frogs’ legs as one of European’s cuisine. Because of this increasing demand, there is a shortage of frog supply in the UK. So basically, they have to import. Today, the EU imports more than 10,000 tons of frogs’ legs from Asia every year.

Fact #5: EU is still young

The European Union that we know today is not as old as you think. Basically, it was officially created along the passage of the Maastricht Treaty or The Treaty of the European Union in 1992. That time, there were only 15 member countries. So basically, the EU just turned 26 years old this year. However, the union of the European countries started long ago. First, the European Economic Community was created in the 1950s, which was followed by European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC) and European Atomic Energy Community.

Fact #6: France rejected UK’s EU application twice

The United Kingdom was not one of the founding state members of the European Union. It was only in 1973 when it officially joined the union. Although it made efforts to be an EU member, France rejected its application, not just once, but twice. The United Kingdom applied to join the EU for the first time in 1961, under Conservative Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. However, French President Charles de Gaulle rejected and vetoed the British application in 1963. According to Gaulle, there are certain irregularities in UK’s economic policies which made them incompatible to become a member of the EU. In 1967, the UK tried again its luck to join the EU. Unfortunately, they were still rejected by Gaulle. In 1969, Gaulle finished his French presidency. In 1973, the United Kingdom under Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath applied for the third time. Successfully, the UK became officially part of the European Economic Community (EEC).

Fact #7: EU is not alone in Europe

The European Union is not the only European Sovereignty in Europe. In fact, there is the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe (CoE) is the leading international organization that upholds human rights and democracy in Europe. They also promote the European culture. It was founded in 1949 and currently, it has 47 member states, including the UK. It also covers approximately 900 million people. Sometimes, it confused with the European Union. No country that joined the EU that has not yet joined the Council of Europe.

Fact #8: More Europeans believe they are EU citizens

The European Union conducts their yearly poll. In 2012, they have found out that most people do not “love” EU that much. For them, EU is just a waste of money. In fact, most of the respondents knew less about the EU. But in the latest study, in lieu of UK’s Brexit referendum, more Europeans now are feeling like they are EU citizens. According to the regular Eurobarometer poll, 68% of the Europe population feel like that they are citizens of the EU. In fact, over half of the population trusted that EU’s economy will rise in the years to come.

Fact #9: From Pigs to Scams

In 2002, the European Union introduced the Euro currency. During that time, there are 12 EU member states. All of their initial letters spell out to “BAFFLING PIGS” ((Belgium, Austria, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Ireland, Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain). When five more countries joined, it turned to be “BEGS PIFFLING SCAMS”.

Fact #10: Past Withdrawals from EH

Before, Algeria was a full-fledged part of France. In fact, it was called French Algeria. When it receives independence in 1962, it decided to leave the European Communities. Moreover, Greenland conducted a referendum in 1979. They decided to officially leave the European Economic Community in 1985 after fishing rights disputes. Last 2016, the United Kingdom hold a referendum widely known as “Brexit”. The resulting turnout was 71% in favor of leaving the European Union. Today, there has been an ongoing talks and negotiation on Brexit. It is expected that the UK will officially leave the EU in March 2019.

Infographic by: praxinetwork.gr

The 15 Most Influential British People of All Time

British people are indeed very talented in a lot of ways. They excel in various fields including science, politics, business, music and art, literary, education, communication, and technology, among others. Their contributions in these fields do not just benefit the United Kingdom and the Europe, but the whole world. In this article, we will discuss the 15 greatest British people of all time whose theories, discoveries, inventions, and contributions have changed the world forever:

William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616)

William Shakespeare has not just conquered the English land, but all around the world. As a matter of fact, his influence remains up to today and for the decades to come. He is considered as the greatest writer of all time. He is widely known for his works like the ever-popular tragic romance story of Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and sonnets.

Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)

Winston Churchill spent his life serving the British people. He was a British statesman who became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice. He was also remarkable for his efforts of uniting European nations. In fact, he was one of the founding fathers of the European Union. His literary works and ideologies in life have continued to influence world economics and politics.

Charles Darwin (1809 – 1882)

Apparently, every elementary grader knows who Charles Darwin is. He was the man behind the ever-famous theory of the evolution of man. He published On the Origin of Species which discussed the basic mechanism of evolution and the concept of natural selection. His contribution in the field of science is truly huge.

Sir Isaac Newton (1642 – 1727)

Another relevant name in the field of science is Isaac Newton. He was an English mathematician, astronomer, and physicist. He published the Mathematics Principles of Natural Philosophy which discussed the laws of motion and universal gravitation which is used widely in the fields of science and academics. Apart from mathematics and physics, he also contributed in the fields of religion and optics.

Edward Jenner (1749 – 1823)

Edward Jenner was an English scientist who was greatly known for his discovery of a smallpox vaccine. He was regarded by his contemporaries as the “Father of Immunology”. He studied the feasibility of cowpox to counter smallpox virus. His discovery spread over Europe and around the world. Now, vaccination is naturally practiced especially for newborns.

Sir Alexander Fleming (1881 – 1955)

Speaking of cure, the most prominent contribution of all time was definitely that of Sir Alexander Fleming’s. He accidentally discovered the cure for certain diseases and disorders – the antibiotic. Fleming found out a mold he identified as “penicillin” which killed a number of disease-causing bacteria. Today, there are 34 million antibiotics certified in the field of medicine.

James Clerk Maxwell (1831 – 1879)

Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell greatly contributed to the understanding of physics. He was widely known for his theory of electromagnetic radiation. According to him, electric and magnetic fields travel through space with the speed of light. This theory led to the discovery of radio waves which inspired telephone, radio, and more.

William Wilberforce (1759 -1833)

William Wilberforce was an English politician and philanthropist who led the movement to abolish the slave trade. He served as an independent Member of Parliament. On the other hand, he also became an Evangelical Christian which inspired him to act on reform. He started the parliamentary campaign against British slave trade. Through a collaborative effort, the Slave Trade Act of 1807 was signed.

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769 – 1852)

Arthur Wellesley was an Anglo-Irish soldier who rose to popularity for bringing peace and stability all throughout Europe. The highlight of his military career was when he served as a general during the Napoleonic wars. In 1813, he led the allied forces against the French Empire. He defeated Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo in 1815. After this, he was granted dukedom. After his military career, he became a Prime Minister of UK.

Thomas Paine (1737 – 1809)

Thomas Paine was an English philosopher and political theorist who became an active American political activist and propagandist. His legacy still lives today in the United States of America. He was actually one of the founding father of the United States. He authored publications to start the American Revolution which liberated America from Britain.

Alexander Graham Bell (1847 – 1922)

Alexander Graham Bell is definitely one of the world’s most popular inventors. This Scottish scientist and engineer has developed the first working telephone. He discovered that sound vibrations could travel telegraphically. This invention was first presented at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. The discovery of telephone inspired the concept of smartphones.

Charles Dickens (1812 – 1870)

The Adventures of Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol – these are just a few of Charles Dickens notable works that changed the world’s outlook on life. Dickens was an English writer who was widely known for his fictional characters. He was considered as one of the best novelists of the Victorian era. He was known for his autobiographical elements in his literary works, talking about life and adventures.

James Watt (1736 – 1819)

James Watt was a Scottish inventor who contributed his Watt steam engine to the world. His invention was vital to start the Industrial Revolution which paved the way for large machinery and mechanical equipment used in manufacturing industries.

John Lennon (1940 – 1980)

John Lennon was probably one of the most popular British icons in the world. He co-founded and was a member of the hit band The Beatles. They redefined music with their commercially successful musical pieces. Definitely, they are one of the greatest bands of all time. Lennon’s inspirations in his music include political activism, peace, and life.

Stephen Hawking (1942 – present)

Stephen Hawking is one of the living legends honored as one of the greatest Britons by BBC. He has been paralyzed for decades but it has not stopped him to influence the world with his works in the fields of physics. But apart from science, he also ventured the reel industry. He was known for his films including The Big Bang Theory (2012) and The Theory of Everything (2014).

12 United Kingdom Facts That You Should Know

The United Kingdom is such a rich place – rich in people, resources, talents, history, technology, and basically, everything. As a matter of fact, there a lot of things that you still do not know about the United Kingdom. These may include fun trivia, secrets, or simple information that are not just published in your history books.

Here are 12 facts about the United Kingdom that you should know:

Fact #1: The Queen and Her Land

As we all know, the United Kingdom runs under a constitutional monarchy in which the head of the state is Queen Elizabeth II. With this, Queen Elizabeth II is the legal owner of one-sixth of the total Earth’s land surface. The United Kingdom has an area of 93,600 square miles. As a matter of fact, it is the 78th largest sovereign state in the world and the 11th in Europe.

Fact #2: 100th Royal Birthday Privilege

Reaching 100 years of existence here in the world is such a blessing. In the United Kingdom, celebrating your centennial birthday is super extra, as you get a personalized greeting card from the Queen herself. Yes! Any British national or even the celebrant herself can apply for a greeting card. Today, the application is done via online. You are eligible for the Queen’s greeting if you celebrate 100th, 105th, and the birthdays following 105th.

This is not only applicable for birthdays. If you are celebrating your 60th anniversary, you can also apply for a greeting card. If you want to apply, check out this page.

Fact #3: Scrapped Billion Dollar Healthcare System

The United Kingdom has spent on a health service computer system that aimed to help medical and healthcare institutions across the country. However, it failed big time forcing them to shut it down. Did you know how much they lost for this project? US$15.8 billion!

Fact #4: Alcohol Drinking is Basically for Everyone

The United Kingdom has current laws that allow even 18 years old and below to drink alcoholic drinks. Under the Children Act 1908, any parent can give an alcoholic drink to children five years old and below only under medical supervision. They considered alcohol as an anesthetic to treat acute injuries. Moreover, teenagers age 16 years old and below are also allowed to drink, only if they are accompanied by adults. 16 to 17 years old are also allowed to drink beer, wine, and cider. The only thing that makes it illegal is that if they purchase the alcoholic drink themselves. They are only allowed to drink in a pub or any private place.

Fact #5: Animals Should Have Passports

In 2013, the United Kingdom government passed a law that requires every equine to have a passport. This includes horses, donkeys, ponies, zebras, and other related animals. The Horse Passport is necessary to accurately identify animals and make it easier to be transported internationally. In fact, the owner may be fined £5,000 if her horse travels without a passport.

Fact #6: The First Chocolate Drink Store

Did you know that London was credited to open the first ever hot chocolate drink store in the world? In the early 1700s, Englishmen started running chocolate houses. In fact, they were the first one to add milk to chocolate drinks. In 1886, the first chocolate bar was created in Bristol, England.

Fact #7: The United Kingdom’s Name

The United Kingdom comes in a lot of names. The conventional long form (which is basically the most appropriate) is the United Kingdom is “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.” It is a sovereign country that united the kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Wales. But the name “United Kingdom” is most popular in the world. It can also be shortened to “UK”. Some people also call it as “Britain” or “Great Britain”.

Fact #8: The Infant Queen

Mary Stuart was born on December 8, 1542. She was the daughter of King James V of Scotland. However, the King died when Mary was only six days old. With this unfortunate event, Mary acceded to the throne and became Queen of Scots on December 14. Definitely, an infant Queen.

Fact #9: The Queen Doesn’t Have a Passport

Earlier, we are shocked that horses need passports. All British passports are issued under the name of Queen Elizabeth II. However, even the Queen does not have a passport. As a matter of fact, she doesn’t need one. According to the Queen’s Secretary of State, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II is unnecessary to possess a passport since she issues passports. Other members of the Royal Family have passports.

Fact #10: Britney Spears Versus Pirates

It’s not really Britney Spears fighting against enemies, but her music. According to reports, British Navy used Britney Spears’ hits “Oops! I Did It Again” and “Baby One More Time” to scare off Somali pirates. Merchant naval officer Rachel Owens explained that Somali pirates hate Western culture, including music. So, they thought that Britney Spears music was perfect to keep pirates away. Hit it, Britney!

Fact #11: Suicide in Men and Abortion in Women

Suicide is the leading cause of death of men under 50. Based on the Office for National Statistics report, suicide among men has reached its highest levels since the 1980s. Even high-profile personalities commit suicide – Alexander McQueen in 2010 and film actor Robin Williams in 2014. On the other hand, one out of 3 women in the UK does abortion. Since safe abortion has been legalized in 1967, more women are deciding on aborting their infants. As a matter of fact, 95% of them stated that they do not regret doing abortion.

Fact #12: Most UK Adults Don’t Know Math

We don’t mean they actually don’t know Math or at least don’t hear the word, but according to studies, almost half of UK adults cannot do basic mathematics. YouGov survey (2016) also reveals that one out of five adults in the UK has forgotten calculating fractions, percentages, the mean, median, and mode.

History’s Great Women: Women of the United Kingdom

For centuries, the idea that history is written only by the victors of conflict has been popularly held by scholars and politicians alike. In truth, however, while many pieces of history were tragically lost to the fallout of wars and hegemony, other stories persisted, often through the dedicated efforts of individuals who knew the value of the stories they could tell.

Throughout much of the history of the world, the history of women was ignored, belittled, or erased. Nonetheless, stories of the great works and lives of women have been preserved by those with the wisdom and the fortitude to tell the sides of stories some would prefer to be forgotten.

In the history of the United Kingdom, countless women have stood up to challenge the troubles of their times, and the influence of their work has been felt long after their passing, sometimes for millennia.

A brief profile of a small selection of these women follows below, in hopes that their stories will live on in readers.

Joan Clarke

Member of the Order of the British Empire and skilled codebreaker Joan Clarke Murray was a Cambridge graduate in mathematics, earning the top honors available at the school at the time of her graduation. Despite her incredible mathematic aptitude, Joan Clarke was denied a formal degree, which Cambridge refused to issue to women until the late 1940s.

At the beginning of World War II, one of her classmates, a man by the name of Gordon Welchman, invited her to join a project he was part of known as GCCS, “Government Code and Cypher School,” located at Bletchley Park. This group of mathematicians was brought together by the government to help break the so-called “Enigma Code,” which German leadership touted as impossible to break.

For some time, Joan Clarke was limited to non-cryptology roles, instead being assigned with the other women of the project to administrative and clerical tasks. Regardless of her limitations in role, she quickly outgrew the position and came to master a process known as Banburismus, developed by GCCS colleague and famous computer scientist Alan Turing.

During the war, she was the only woman to ever master this process, and, as a result of her remarkable skill, her supervisors promoted her to the position of “linguist” within GCCS. This was a loophole designed to earn her slightly more pay, since she had been (and still was) paid considerably less than male colleagues of the same and lower ranks.

Clarke eventually rose to the position of Deputy Head in 1944, the highest position allowed to any woman in the program. She was refused further promotions.

During her time at Bletchley Park, she became very close friends with Alan Turing. Working together frequently, Clarke and Turing made significant contributions to both British intelligence agencies and cryptology as a whole.

Joan Clarke’s mastery of mathematics contributed heavily to the breaking of the code used to encrypt Nazi war messages, which influenced the British fight against Nazi forces to degrees that, to this day, cannot be fully quantified.

Mathematics and algorithmic codes are now used in a broad range of computational devices and are often taken for granted in the 21st century. Joan Clarke was notably ahead of her time in this field and the real recognition for this feat has only really come into the public spotlight over 50 years after she was carrying out her important work.

Doris Lessing

Born in late October of 1919 in the city of Kermanshah, Iran to British parents, esteemed author Doris Lessing’s early life unfolded across not only multiple countries, but multiple continents. At the age of six, Lessing’s family moved to Zimbabwe, which was, at the time, colonised by Britain under the name of Southern Rhodesia.

In Zimbabwe, Lessing’s family attempted to live a simple life on a farm, but the farm ultimately did not turn a profit. Doris left the farm in her mid-teens to work and eventually moved to Britain to pursue work as an operator. Having been educated up to the age of 13 in Zimbabwe, Lessing took her education into her own hands and began to pursue writing on her own time.

In the early 1940s, Lessing took interest in Left politics and writing, becoming involved with the “Left Book Club,” a publishing firm that was heavily influential in the British left-wing of the mid-1900s.

Her interest in socialist politics helped motivate her move to London in 1949 to pursue writing, as well as a number of other significant events of her life. Inspired by her convictions, she was an outspoken activist who campaigned against nuclear weapons and apartheid. Her views on Apartheid resulted in both the colonial governments of South Africa and Zimbabwe banning her from access to the country.

Her strong left-wing beliefs did not stop her from criticising other left political groups. She was incredibly outspoken against many of the warlike actions undertaken by the Soviet government of Russia.

The novels she wrote were incredibly successful to the point that multiple of the most prestigious awards in the country were offered to her.

She turned down many of the British awards as a political statement; she did not believe in accepting awards tied to an imperial government she didn’t support. However, she did accept the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2007.

Following her acceptance of the Nobel Prize, she became the oldest winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature and the 11th woman to receive the award.

Doris Lessing’s work approached social issues with a fearlessness and lack of censorship that was incredibly rare in her time. Furthermore, her work challenged many of the political assumptions of the time, both in the fact that she had such incredible success despite social punishment for her views and gender and in the fact that her work pulled no punches in challenging the remnants of colonialism across the world.

Boudica

Both an important historical figure and a folk hero of the United Kingdom, Boudica was responsible for taking lead of the Iceni Celtic Tribe in a revolt against the overwhelming legions of Rome.

Boudica led the Iceni tribe to revolt after Roman forces annexed their kingdom, which had previously been an independent ally to the Empire of Rome led by Boudica’s husband, Prasutagus. Upon Prasutagus’ death, his will indicated that the kingdom of the Iceni should have fallen to joint rulership by his daughters and Rome, as it had been while he was king.

Roman troops ignored the orders and, by the account of the Roman historian Tacitus, Boudica and her daughters were severely tortured.

In response, Boudica united the local Celtic tribes, including the Iceni, and led them to war. Queen Boudica’s campaign met early success, with her forces destroying Colchester, London, and St. Albans. The clashes at London and St. Albans were extremely bloody for both the Roman and Celtic forces, though the Roman legion ultimately retreated.

At the height of Boudica’s revolt, Nero, the Emperor of Rome, seriously considered a full retreat from the British Isles. However, the Roman Governor of Britain, Suetonius Paulinus, ultimately exhausted her forces, defeating her army at the Battle of Watling Street. Boudica herself would never capitulate to Rome, dying before the Romans were able to wrest control of Britain again from its native people.

The historian Tacitus asserted that she took her own life rather than allow Rome to have victory over her, while the other major Roman historian to write of Boudica, Cassius Dio, asserted that she died of illness.

The Roman accounts of Boudica are the only ones that exist in full, and, as a result, are somewhat tainted with the biases of Roman society including Cassius Dio’s description of her as “possessed of a greater intelligence than often belongs to women” (Source: Peter Keegan’s “Boudica, Cartimandua, Messalina, and Agrippinia the Younger.

Independent Women of Power and the Gendered Rhetoric of Roman History.”) Regardless of some of the implicit cultural biases present in the writings of the Roman historians, both Cassius Dio’s and Tacitus’ accounts do not portray Boudica’s revolt as illegitimate; both historians attest to her rightful heirship, royal ancestry, and martial prowess.

Top 15 British Inventions That Changed the World Forever

Today, doing things is very convenient with the rise of technology. It has improved communication, education, business, healthcare, and basically, every application in life. Computers, internet, smartphones, cars, and machinery – these technologies helped humans in so many ways. Thanks to the brilliant inventors, researchers, and scientists who paved the ways to these discoveries, innovations, and inventions.

Speaking of inventions, British people contributed a lot to the world. According to a Japanese research firm, over 40% of the world’s inventions originated in the United Kingdom. Some of these are complex inventions. Some of them are the simplest of the simplest, but still, you can never imagine without these things.

Here are the top 15 British inventions and discoveries that changed the world forever.

Antibiotics

In 1928, Scottish biologist Sir Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered an antibiotic substance called “penicillin” which saved millions of lives. It helped women during childbirth, saved 15% of the wounded soldiers in World War II, and eradicated prevalent STDs. Today, there are 34 million antibiotics registered and prescribed to patients to treat certain disorders.

Chocolate Bar

Chocolate drink was an all-time favorite even from the earliest civilizations. But was only in 1847 when chocolate can actually be ‘eaten’ in a form of bar. Joseph Fry mixed cocoa powder and sugar to create a paste and molded into a bar. In 1866, Fry’s factory in Bristol began producing chocolate bars.

Soda Water

English clergyman and scientist Joseph Priestley began series of experiments in a brewery in Leeds, England. He placed a bowl of water above the fermenting liquor which resulted in the invention of carbonated water. In 1772, he announced this discovery through his publication “Impregnating Water with Fixed Air”.

Cement

In 1824, Leeds bricklayer Joseph Aspdin invented something that changed home and construction forever. He tried burning the mixture of limestone and clay and produced a much stronger concrete compound he called “Portland Cement”. Today, about three tons of cement are produced each year. 70% of the global population also lived in houses made of concrete.

Toothbrush

William Addis was an English entrepreneur who became popular in the world for his invention of…the toothbrush. But the biggest twist was that he invented it inside the jail when he was imprisoned in 1770. He decided to improve the way prisoners brush their teeth. He used a small bone from his meal, made holes and attached bristles. After his release, he produced toothbrushes and became a worldwide hit.

Jet Engine

English RAF fighter and pilot Frank Whittle invented the turbojet engine. When he was 22, he thought that they can use a gas turbine to power a plane. He pursued his research without any support for study and development. In 1937, he successfully invented the turbojet engine. Modern turbojet engines today are used in British and American aircraft.

Refrigerator

In 1755, Scottish professor William Cullen conceptualized a small refrigerating machine. But it was only in 1856 when British journalist developed the first practical vapor compression refrigeration system. He introduced this patent to meat processing houses and breweries. Today, 99% of households have a refrigerator. In fact, over 100 million refrigerators are sold annually.

Telephone

The device that revolutionized the way people communicate was invented by Scottish inventor Alexander Graham Bell. He discovered that sounds could transmit telegraphically. This invention was first showcased at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. The telephone inspired the invention of the telegraph, television, and of course, smartphones.

Television

Another breakthrough technology that redefined entertainment was the television. There are many inventors who can be attributed to its invention. But it was Scottish inventor John Logie Baird who successfully demonstrated the first working TV system in 1962. Today, most people can’t live without TV, spending two to six hours watching entertainment shows.

World Wide Web

The most revolutionary invention of the 20th century is the internet. Of course, the internet would be useful without the tripled letter W – the WWW or Worldwide Web. English engineer and computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee developed the link between the HTTP and the server which initiated the domain system. Today, there are over 1.2 billion websites live now on the internet.

Photography

Probably, every millennial around the world is addicted to selfies and Instagram feed aesthetics. But did you know that photography started in the United Kingdom? British scientist William Henry Fox Talbot pioneered photography using silver iodide on paper and started contact printing, a system before the advent of digital cameras.

Light Bulb

Without this invention, everything would be dark. Thanks to British physicist and chemist Sir Joseph Wilson Swan who successfully developed an incandescent light bulb. He also responsible for supplying electric lights that have illuminated houses and buildings up to today.

Tin Can

Another simple yet great invention was by a British merchant named Peter Durand. He invented something that introduced food preservation – the tin can. Yes! The tin can that remains a storage for your favourite meatloaf, corned beef, liver spread, etc. He then sold this patent to two Englishmen who started its massive production.

Stainless Steel

Apart from the tin can, the stainless steel as also invented by an English metallurgist. Harry Brearley discovered the “rustless” steel when he was tasked to look for materials that can prolong the life of gun barrels. Today, stainless steel is widely used in surgical instruments, cutlery, turbine blades, and architectural cladding, among others.

ATM

Thanks to this invention, getting money from your bank savings is so much easy. British inventor John Shepherd-Barron invented the first cash machine widely known as the automated teller machine, in short ATM. The first ATM was used by Barclays Bank in Enfield Town in North London. People can withdraw up to £10 maximum by inserting special cheques and keying-in 4-digit PIN number which is still used today.

There you go, folks! Those were just some of the greatest inventions done by British people. Other great British masterpieces include steam engine, lawnmower, automatic kettle, sewage system, and so much more. Can you imagine life without these inventions? Of course, not!

Image source: visual.ly

The 9 Greatest British Historians of All Time

History is very important. It is a treasure that we need to keep and protect. The stories of the past have molded us to become what we are today, especially our culture, beliefs, and ideologies, among others. That is why are required to learn about the history. This is for us to understand clearly understand the ‘present’.

The records and accounts of historical events wouldn’t be relayed to us today if it weren’t for people who dedicated their lives studying and keeping track of the most important events of the past. A person who records about the past is called “historians”. Like history, historians are very important. Without them, we would completely have no clue about what happened before today.

The world, Europe, and the United Kingdom are rich in history. Britain’s past narratives are of course recorded by brilliant historians. In this article, let us recognise the greatest British historians of all time:

David Hume

Hume was a Scottish historian who was also an economist and philosopher. He was very remarkable for his influential system of philosophical empiricism and skepticism. His literary debut, “A Treatise of Human Nature” was considered one of his greatest works. It studied the psychological basis of human nature. Apart from this, Hume authored “The History of England”, a six-volume writing which became a best-seller. Most educators now refer to this as the standard history of England. He also wrote “The Natural History of Religion” in which he argued that monotheistic religions are derived from earlier polytheistic religions.

J.F.C. Fuller

Major General John Frederick Charles Fuller was a British Army officer and strategist who also happened to love recording the history. He was much known for his books and articles about weapons, armaments, military, techniques, and theories. In fact, his “The Nine Principles of War” has been used in advanced military training since 1990. As a historian, he published historical accounts from the Second World War. His most popular work was the “Armament and History: The Influence of Armament on History from the Dawn of Classical Warfare to the End of the Second World War.”

Lord Acton

Lord Acton was an English Catholic historian who was considered by his contemporaries as the “Magistrate of History” and regarded as one of the most prominent Englishmen of the 19th century. He also served as a Member of the parliament of Bridgnorth and Carlow Borough. He had published dozens of books and lectures about history. Some of his most notable works were The History of Freedom in Antiquity” and “The History of Freedom in Christianity”. He even became a profession of Modern History in Cambridge.

A.J.P. Taylor

Alan John Percival Taylor was a British historian who was recognised as one of the greatest historians and journalists of all time. He specialised in 19th- and 20th-century European diplomacy. His excellent oratory skills made him a media favourite, appearing as a resource person and broadcaster in television. He also wrote for a number of leading newspapers. Above all, he was a historian at heart. He wanted to tell the world about the rich history of Europe. In fact, he published “English History 1914–1945” which became a huge success. Another of his bestselling works was “The Struggle for Mastery in Europe 1848–1918” which discussed the events from the fall of dynasties in Europe to the end of World War I.

H.G. Wells

Herbert George Wells was an English writer who was known for his numerous novels, short stories, books, and works about satire and science function. He was even called as “The Father of Science Fiction”. But apart from that, he was also a historian. He published “The Outline of History” which became a bestselling in 1920. It was very popular that it made Wells a rich man. In 1922, he published “A Short History of the World” which was praised by Albert Einstein and has been re-published even in today’s generation.

Stefan Zweig

Zweig was an Austrian journalist and biographer. He was considered one of the most popular writers in the world between 1920 and 1930. He wrote different novellas including “Letter from an Unknown Woman: and published biographies of Ferdinand Magellan, Romain Rolland, Emile Verhaeren, and Erasmus of Rotterdam, among others. His last work was “The World of Yesterday”, published days before he committed suicide.

Edward Gibbon

Gibbon was an English historian and a Member of Parliament. His most popular work was “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, a six-volume publication that provides Gibbon’s comprehensive explanation for the fall of the Roman Empire. His first historical narrative was the “History of Switzerland. However, it was only published after his death. “Memoires Litteraires de la Grande Bretagne” was his second work which discussed the social conditions in England during his time. However, his fellow historians and literary scholars considered it as a flop.

Isaiah Berlin

Sir Isaiah Berlin was a Russian-British political theorist and historian of ideas. One of his most famous works was “Historical Inevitability” which was published in 1954. It discussed the relationship between people and society, and how the two are influenced by exceptional individuals. He also wrote “Karl Marx: His Life and Environment” and “The Age of Enlightenment: The Eighteenth-Century Philosophers”, among others.

Anthony Blunt

Anthony Frederick Blunt was one of the leading British art historians. In fact, his graduate research at Cambridge University was about French art history. He also became an Art Professor at Oxford University and the University of London. He published a book entitled “Art and Architecture in France” and wrote on topics about certain artists. However, the world got shocked when he was revealed by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher that he was a Soviet Spy. He was a member of Cambridge Five, a group of moles working for the Soviet Union. After knowing this, Queen Elizabeth II immediately stripped his Royal Victorian Knighthood.

Being a historian is crucial. It requires accuracy to the nth level. Remember, one single mistake in our history books is like an altered fact of the past.

Brexit: How does leaving EU affect the United Kingdom?

In 2016, the people of the United Kingdom have decided to exit the European Union. In a referendum known as Brexit, over 70% of the British people voted to leave EU. The referendum was made after Tory Party’s manifesto suggested holding a referendum on UK’s EU membership.

Former Prime Minister David Cameron personally does not support Brexit. In fact, the result of the referendum caused him leaving the government. According to him, the United Kingdom will experience political and economic downturns if the UK will exit EU. He even presented 4-key essential points why the UK shall remain in the EU.

On the other hand, some experts weigh in the exit of the UK from EU. For them, the withdrawal of EU membership will help the United Kingdom in so many ways.

To help you understand more the impact of Brexit on the United Kingdom, here are some sectors which may be affected, positively and negatively by Brexit:

Economy

The European Union is one of the largest markets in the world, about one-fourth of the global GDP. Also, the EU is UK’s biggest trading partner. Almost half of the UK’s exports are to the EU, whereas 50% of imports are from the EU. With this, the EU membership attracts more foreign investments. For example, UK received over £900 billion of Foreign Direct Investment.

On the other hand, some Brexit supporters state that the cost of EU membership, roughly around £200billion can be better spent in improving Britain’s industries and technology, among others.

But for most economic experts, leaving the EU will shrink the British economy. Some of these effects include reduced business investments and decreased house prices. Further, Brexit critics state that every pound sent to the EU returns to Britain 10 times more because of trade and investments.

Trade

Today, the European Union has established trade deals with over 50 countries. If the United Kingdom leaves the EU, it has to renegotiate trade deals with these foreign nations. On the other hand, the UK can ‘independently’ pursue international trade deals. Moreover, some experts see that the exit from EU will increase the price and demands of UK’s imports which will provide a better opportunity for UK producers. Basically, for them, it will even help reducing the carbon footprint if British people produce and consume local products.

Investment

The United Kingdom is since then regarded as one of the world’s biggest financial centres. However, with its exit from the EU, many banks, financial firms, and investors have started re-establishing their bases back to the EU to take out and cease their operations in the UK. In fact, the Business for New Europe stated that the huge shift of businesses and investors would lead to reduced tax revenues. On the other hand, Brexit supporters firmly believe that the United Kingdom can still manage to reinvent itself as a supercharged economy.

Sovereignty

For some experts, leaving the EU would not improve the national sovereignty of the United Kingdom. According to Labour’s Hilary Benn, it will just instead take out the UK’s voice to influence events in the international arena. It will also remove UK’s power in the judicial and negotiating table, deciding on things that may affect Britain. Moreover, the UK will never be absolutely sovereign because it is still a member of Nato, the United Nations, the World Trade Organisations, and various treaties.

But for some, it will be an advantage because the UK does not have to abide by the rulings and judgments of the EU. The UK instead will still be a member of the European Court of Human Rights which is non-EU controlled.

Bureaucracy

According to Brexit supports, being part of the EU removes UK’s authority to design a political and economic framework that is targeted primarily to the common good of the British people. For them, if the UK exits EU, the British government can design a regulatory framework that can address directly the problems of the UK citizens.

Immigration

As we all know, the European Union orders the free movement of goods, services, labor, and most especially, people. Because of this, the UK has no control over immigration. People from EU member states can move freely to the UK. The UK is known for having a more generous welfare system. With this, immigrants go to the UK. According to some experts, the UK is now more vulnerable to terror attacks because of being an EU member.

However, the UK is as well dependent on EU immigrants in terms of labor and workforce. According to most British companies, immigrants from the EU are far more educated than UK citizens. In fact, 32% of EU immigrants in the UK have a degree compared to only 21% among UK nationals. Moreover, Brexit critics believe that being part of the EU creates the UK that is diverse in culture. It would also be convenient to stay in EU so that the 1.5 million British nationals settled in other EU member states would not have to move back to the UK and secure a visa.

Jobs

Basically, most employees will be affected if the UK exits from the EU. Why? According to statistics, over three million jobs in the United Kingdom are created by the EU. In fact, a huge percentage of UK companies work and trade with other EU member states. If trade and investment will be affected after UK’s exit from EU, employment will be greatly affected. There will also be job shortages, affecting the potential growth of UK’s economy. Further, a huge percentage of British workers outside the United Kingdom may also lose their job.

Security

As mentioned earlier, being part of EU may increase UK’s vulnerability to terrorism. Nationals from EU member states are free to move around the UK. However, some senior military figures argued the statement. For them, being part of EU is an “important pillar” in UK’s security. As a matter of fact, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon even stated that the UK benefitted a lot from being a member of the union. The EU has worked closely on defense and security. There is a unified exchange of criminal and passenger records to counter terrorism effectively.

UK in EU: A Timeline from Membership to Brexit

The United Kingdom has come a long way before it became an official member of the European Union. The UK was not involved in the initial creation of the united European community. It was only in 1973 when authorities approved UK’s third application to join the union. Since then, the United Kingdom has become a key player, actively taking part in the creation of policies which helped the growth and development of all 28 active EU members.

However, in June 2016, a very crucial question was asked of the people in the UK:

“Should we remain a member of the European Union?”

The concept of Brexit started – derived from Britain and Exit – noting the withdrawal of United Kingdom’s membership with the European Union.

Before we discuss further what Brexit means, let us tackle how the United Kingdom became part of the European Union.

The Beginning of the European Communities

In 1951, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands signed the Treaty of Paris which established the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). The United Kingdom was invited to take part but they declined. After the ESCS, the European Economic Community (EEC) and European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) were formed.

In 1960, the United Kingdom, together with Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and Switzerland established the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). This is their response to the creation of the European Economic Community. The EFTA seeks to establish free trade but it avoids to create supranational governing bodies.

UK’s Failed Applications

In 1961, the United Kingdom, under Conservative Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, submitted their application to join the European Economic Community. However, French President Charles de Gaulle vetoed their application in 1963. For Gaulle, certain British policies, including those under Britain’s labor, agriculture, and economy made the country incompatible to join EEC.

In 1967, UK tried again to apply as a member of the EEC. For the second time, Gaulle blocked the British application. In 1969, Gaulle relinquished his presidency. With this, the United Kingdom, under Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath successfully became an official member of the EEC in 1971.

The Initial Movement to Leave the Community

In 1974, Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson renegotiated Britain’s membership in the European Communities. Basically, Britain was a small agricultural producer. It only depended on imports. With this, Wilson discussed Britain’s net budgetary contribution to the EC. According to him, Britain suffered greatly from agricultural spending and agricultural import taxes. With this, the EEC members agreed to establish the European Regional Development Fund, a major advantage for Britain.

In June 1975, the United Kingdom conducted the first ever national referendum which asked the people whether the UK should remain as a member or leave the EC. The members of the government were given the chance to present their views. After the deliberation, the electorate decided for a continued membership on EC by a substantial majority. Further, the British people voted to stay in the EC by 67% by 33%.

After the referendum, the United Kingdom continued to become a member of the EEC. In 1979, the Exchange Rate Mechanism was launched which aimed to standardize exchange rates across the EEC. It is also a preparation for the adoption of a single currency. On the other hand, The UK opted out of the monetary system. Moreover, another call by the Labour party for the UK to leave the EU was made, this time without a referendum. The Conservative party also went back to function with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

In 1985, the UK supported the Single European Act. In 1987, it was officially signed which created an internal market. The single market promotes free movement of goods, services, labor, and money. In 1990, the UK also joined again the European Exchange Rate Mechanism.

The Birth of the Official European Union

Thatcher resigned as the Prime Minister in 1990. The UK was also forced to opt out again from the ERM in 1992. As a result, the Maastricht Treaty was signed. This resulted in the official creation of the European Union. Instead of just an economic union, it evolved into a political-economic union.

On the other hand, another movement for the UK’s membership of the EU was formed. In 1994, Anglo-French multi-millionaire Sir Hames Goldsmith founded the Referendum Party. It aimed to ask the British people whether the UK should remain as part of the federal European state or revert to being an independent nation practicing free trade. However, it failed again.

In 1997, the Amsterdam Treaty was signed to strengthen security policy. The Nice Treaty was also signed in 2001 to reinforce defense and judicial policies.

The Brexit

After the decades of continued ties with the European Union, the United Kingdom has decided to call it quits. In June 2016, a referendum was initiated to ask again the British people whether to stay in EU or leave. The majority decided to leave the EU with a turnout of 71% by 29% or over 30 million people voting.

The Prime Minister that time, David Cameron was against the referendum. In fact, he rejected a previous call for a referendum regarding UK’s EU membership last 2012. Because of the results, Cameron decided to resign and quit as a Prime Minister. He was replaced by Prime Minister Theresa May.

There are huge changes after the declaration of the referendum’s result. Basically, the pound value fell to its lowest level since 1985. Cameron also predicted major economic downfall. However, according to experts, the UK economy has grown 1.8% after the referendum. On the other hand, PM Theresa May is working on negotiations. The first official Brexit talks started last June 2017. Another consideration was the Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon which spells out the policies if a member state decides to quit EU. Based on the article, United Kingdom may officially leave the EU on March 29, 2019, Friday.

Today, there have been continued special hearings and talks in the European Parliament Committees. EU member states, political parties, and British people are varied in views about Britain’s exit from the European Union.

11 Founding Fathers of the European Union

The European Union is one of the biggest economic and political unions in the world. It is composed of 28 nations regulated under an internal single market which standardized the systems of laws. The European Union started as an initiative to unite and ignite cooperation between nations that were greatly devastated during the Second World War.

The union wouldn’t be possible without visionary leaders who were very compassionate in achieving peace among nations. These great men carry the same goal – to bring the people to a sphere that embraces unity and prosperity.

Let us get to know the 11 founding fathers of the European Union:

Konrad Adenauer

Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer was the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. He led the country during the aftermath of the Second World War. During his reign, Germany became prosperous and productive which established its strong relationship with the United Kingdom and the United States. He was also one of the founding leaders of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) which remains to be one of Germany’s most influential parties. Moreover, he was notable for signing a treaty of friendship with France, ending the two nations’ longtime feud.

Joseph Bech

Bech had served as the 15th Prime Minister of Luxembourg for 11 years. He became the Prime Minister again after the World War II. During his reign, he established the Benelux Customs Union and helped in the development of the European Coal and Steel Community. He was also very active in the preparation of the 1955 Messina Conference which established the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1958.

Johan Willem Beyen

Before Johan Beyen served as a Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, he was a banker and a civil servant. Beyen played a vital role in the formation of the European Economic Community (ECC). After the collapse of the plan to create a European political and defense community, Beyen was convinced that everything has to start with the economy. He then proposed to form a customs union. During the Messina Conference, Beyen headed the Dutch delegation. Beyen’s point of view clearly inspired the relaunch of the European integration.

Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill was best known for his literary masterpieces. But more to this, he was one of the great minds behind Europe integration In fact, he was the one who called the nations to organize a “United States of Europe”. He aimed to unite European nations and eliminate ills of nationalism. Even before the Second World War, Churchill proposed a council of Europe. Because of his dedication, he received the Charlemagne Prize for his efforts to unite European nations.

Alcide De Gasperi

De Gasperi was the 30th Prime Minister of Italy. He founded the Christian Democracy party. Since the Italian Unification, De Gasperi is the 5th longest serving Prime Minister. He became active in the creation of the Council of Europe. He also participated in the creation of rapprochement between European nations. Moreover, he worked closely on the Marshall Plan and on establishing stronger economic ties between European countries.

Walter Hallstein

Hallstein was a German diplomat and politician who began his political career even before the second global war. He started a movement for a federal Europe. He played a vital role in European integration which made him the first president of the European Economic Community (EEC). He worked closely on the development of the common market. Hallstein was also among those who negotiate for the realization of various treaties at a London conference. His passion in uniting European nations can be seen in his innumerable books and articles.

Sicco Mansholt

This Dutch politician and farmer served as the 4th President of the European Commission. During the world war, Mansholt was involved in Dutch Resistance. He witnesses the horrors of the famine, especially the lack of food supply. When he became a commissioner, he worked closely on various sectors including agriculture, fishing, food supply, and economic affairs, among others. In fact, he was remarkable for developing the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy – one of the most prominent policies that aimed to produce a sustainable environment for everyone.

Jean Monnet

Monnet was a French economist who was also a visionary leader in the European integration. In fact, he was regarded as “The Father of Europe” because of his efforts to unite European nations. He played a key role in the creation of European Coal and Steel Community. In 1950, he helped in the development of the Schuman plan which had a huge positive impact on the economy. This plan aimed to boost coal and steel production.

Robert Schuman

Schuman was a French statesman who became the Prime Minister of France twice. He also worked as a reformist Minister in both Finance and Foreign policies. He became an instrument in the realizations of a Council of Europe. In the mid-1950s, he led the European Movement. Apparently, he was the mind behind the Schuman Declaration which was vital to European Coal and Steel Community. He also received a Charlemagne prize for his efforts in achieving peace and unity among European nations.

Paul-Henri Spaak

Paul-Henri Spaak was a Belgian politician who served during the two World Wars. In 1944, he was among the politicians involved in the negotiation of the Benelux Customs Union. Because of this, he was appointed as one of the leaders of European Coal and Steel Community, NATO, Council of Europe, and NATO. He also played a vital role in the creation of the 1957 Treaty of Rome which established the European Economic Community.

Altiero Spinelli

Spinelli was an Italian Communist politician who was most remarkable for his authorship of the Ventotene Manifesto which was essential in the realization of a “one Europe”. The manifesto encouraged European states to be united. According to experts, the manifesto initiated the birth of European federalism. With this, he became the leader of the federalist movement. In 1980, he re-launched the European integration process. He developed the Spinelli Plan in 1984 which inspired the Maastricht Treaty and the European Union.